Rasbert Turner, Freelance Writer

spanish town

Two Special Constables were freed of corruption charges in the Spanish Town Resident Magistrate's Court on Wednesday. However, only one was released as the other is currently serving 15 years on gun charges.

Michael Mills was told by RM Lorna Errar-Gayle that he was free to go due to want of prosecution as the investigators from the Office of Professional Respon-sibilities could not locate the complainant and that there was no forwarding address.

She warned Mills to be very careful and told the other accused, Dwayne Taylor, who is incarcerated, serving time on gun-related charges, that he must have learnt a valuable lesson. "I don't have to tell you anything as you must have learnt by now," the RM said.

The Crown led evidence that in February 2005 a motorist reportedly gave Taylor $1,450. A few days later, the same motorist was caught operating his motor vehicle contrary to the term of his licence and was accused of 'roboting'.

He was told that he needed to do something. The motorist subsequently reported the matter to the police and members of the OPR held both lawmen during a sting operation. A file was sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions who ruled that Mills and Taylor be charged.

However, while the case of corruption was being tried, Taylor was caught in Clarendon with an illegal gun. He admitted to the court that he was among other men who robbed several persons and that when he came up on a police checkpoint, he took the gun from the other men and said that he was a policeman.

He was subsequently charged with robbery with aggravation and illegal possession of firearm and was sentenced to 15 years' hard labour in the May Pen Circuit Court, Clarendon.

"I don't have to tell you anything as you must have learnt by now" - RM